St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-08-20
BURNED AT SEA.
Loss of the Steamer City of Mon
treal, of the Inman Line.

treal, of the Inman Line.
LONDON, Aug. 19.-The Jnman line
steamer City of Montreal has been de-
Stroyed by fire at sea. Her passengers
were saved. The City of Montreal left
New York Aug. 6 for Liverpool. She
was commanded by Capt. Land. 4 boat
containing six passengers and seven
members of the crew are missing. The
occupants of this boat are reported to
have periShed. She had 420 passengers
on board. She had no first cabin pas
SengerS. but carried 223 intermediate
and ll5 Steerage passengers. The City
of Montreal measured 432 feet over all.
A feet in moulded width of beam, and
So feet deep from spar deck to keel.
She was built 10y TObey Il Co., of Glas-
gov, i'll 1871. was an iron screw steamer.
had nine bulllheadS and was equipped
with compound engines, having GOO
horse power. The steamer was worth
about half million dollars. The insur-
ance is not known. She was not used
fer firSt-class travel. She had made ia
voyages. Capt. Land has been in the
service of the line for twenty-five years
or more. He is considered one of the
most careful of transatlantic captains.
No one here has any idea how the fire
broke out.
DETAILS OF THE FIRE.
QUEENSTOWN, Aug 19.-The tug
Mount Etna landed all except six of the
crew and seven of the passengers of the
City of Montreal. The following par
ticulars are learned: The fire broke
out Oh the night of the 10th inst. Just
after the passengers had retired for the
night. The vessel was then in latitude
43 degrees. The alarm was at once
given and the passengers rushed from
their berthS for the deck, half dressed.
The smoke from the fire invaded the
passage way and caused the utmost con-
Sternatiou among the passengers. many
of whom were almost Suffocated before
gaining the open air. The missing
passengers and crew put off from the
vessel in one of the boats, and nothing
since has been heard of them. The
statements as to when the fire broke
out conflict. Some of the passengers
state the fire broke out shortly
after midnight on the morning of
the l1th. According to the statement of
the survivors of the steamship City of
Montreal, the fire which consumed the
vessel broke out from the cotton bales.
ST which there were 1900 on board. The
cotton Was slowed in the after main
hold. The crew was hastily summoned,
and nine hose were quickly put i'll work
ing order and trained on the fire. When
it was realized that the fire was a seri-
Gus one. the course of the shin was
changed about and shaped for New
foundland. which was 400 miles away.
Shortly after this was done the flames
from the burning cotton attacked the
deck. and with great force burst through
the deck. midway between the matches.
Nl,a Nf a.,
terrific, and II was soon seen that
TIE SHIP WAS DOOMED.
Word was passed that it was impoSsi-
bic to save the vessel, and all attention
was given to lowering the boats and
saving the passengers and ships people.
A momentary panic was caused when
the captain decided to abandon the
vessel, but all managed to embark in
the boats, all of which, but one,
containing six of the crew and
seven passengers, were picked
up by tn York City. After the boats
were lowered and the passengers and
crew got into them. they soon scattered,
and one entirely vanished. This con-
tanned two stewards, two seamen and
seven passengers, and there is but little
doubt that the, whole boat-load perished.
The boat did rot contain full crew,
and left the City of Montreal against
the captains orders, as there was time
to take many more in it. The other sur
viv0rS consider the fate of the occupants
of the lost boat as Judgment for their
cowarlice. A bark was sighted shortly
after the boats left the steamer, and her
crew were preparing to pick up the sur
yiyOrS when the steamer York City, at
tracted by the flames from the burning
Continued on the Fifth Page.